Gator marked Burt Reynolds’ first-ever sequel. And it was also his first time settling into the director’s chair. Hal Needham joins him behind the camera, serving as a unit director, and Burt and his mustache star opposite Jerry Reed, who signs the title theme.

Sounds alright?

I’ll openly admit to being charmed by stunt man turned actor turned director Reynolds. But this one just doesn’t work. While I love his laugh, and his good ol’ boy portrayal, there’s nothing really to captivate the viewer as the story plods along and non one really seems to be giving their all.

Gator (Reynolds) is out of prison again, and returning to his moonshining ways. But he’s about to be blackmailed into taking another job. This time it’s to take down a local crime lord, who specializes in extortion, running minors in a sex ring, and drugs, lots of drugs. That crime lord just happens to be an old childhood friend of Gator’s, Bama (Jerry Reed).

Reed is able to walk that good ol’ boy line, and seem really mean at the same time. He and Reynolds have solid chemistry, and a year later, they would be much better cast in Smokey and the Bandit.

There’s a great boat chase during the film’s opening, but that also seems to be the movie’s highlight. There’s not another single set piece until the climax that features a sprawling fistfight across the beach, preceded by a painful stunt involving a truck.

The poster for this one far outshines the film itself, and Lauren Hutton seems a little miscast as the romantic lead, Aggie, a local reporter.

The film plods along, and can’t seem to find a real balance. When it’s dark, it’s really dark, and when it’s funny, it’s genuinely funny. But there’s nothing between the two extremes to really connect them. It’s a little uneven.

And knowing that both Reynolds and Reed have Smoky in their future, you kind of want this to be better than it is. To be a great precursor to an iconic 70s film. But it’s not. It’s forgetful, and once the opening boat chase is out of the way, outside of Reynolds’ laugh, its kind of boring.

It definitely did not hold my attention. And by the time the credits were rolling, I just wanted to forget the whole thing and watch Smokey and the Bandit instead.

The script, performances, and direction all needed a little more polish. There’s a really good idea here, it’s just not executed so well. Sorry Burt. Still love ya.